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June turns toward me, the smile on her face dimming at the sight of me. “Dom, what are you doing here?”
Simon pulls his gun out and sets it on the counter, turning it toward me like a warning. “Don’t make me regret letting you in.”
“I thought it was the takeout.” Magnus crosses his arms over his chest.
All three of them are on the defensive.
“I just came to talk.” I inch forward, noting how June tenses with each step I take toward her. “Please.”
She hops from the stool and steps around Magnus. “Then talk.”
My cold dead heart beats at this ounce of a chance she gives me.
“June.” I sigh. “I can’t eat. Or sleep. Or breathe. My entire body hurts like someone ripped my heart from my chest.”
“Then you know what I’ve felt for the last six months.”
I take another step and ignore the blow to the gut. “I do. It’s terrible. I never meant for you to feel like that. I…” I stare into her eyes, begging her to meet my gaze. “I was wrong, June. About everything. I was fucking wrong. And I know it’s too little too late but God damn it, I need you to know how sorry I am.” I drop to my knees in front of her, not giving a shit about the two men who are bearing witness to this pathetic act. “I’m so sorry about lying to you. Treating you like you didn’t have what it took to be in my world. I was just afraid. I didn’t want that life for you. I didn’t want you to think I couldn’t protect you. I wanted to solve the problem,beforeyou were put in danger. I didn’t want you to doubt me.
"I vowed to protect you, and even though that's what I thought I was doing, I did it all wrong. I should have told you. I should have let you in. I should have been the man you needed me to be. But I swear to you, I know now how fucking wrong I was. And I'm done, I'm done with it all. I have a council meeting scheduled next week to tell them that I'm resigning. I don't want it. None of it. Nothing means anything if I can't have you. I spent my whole fucking life working toward that position. It was the only thing I had ever wanted. But it's nothing compared to losing you, June. I…I don't want it. I don't need it. I need you. I want you. And I will spend every day for the rest of my life begging you to forgive me. Because you're the only thing I give a shit about, the only thing that matters. Whatever you want. I'll do it. Just tell me what to do."
I grip her hand in mine and watch the tears roll down her cheeks.
“I never meant to hurt you. And I will never forgive myself for that. You are strong. You are capable. You are worthy of so much more than this life has to offer you. You made me feel something I have never felt before, June. Unconditional love. And I am so fucking sorry that I didn’t give you that in return. I was selfish. I was foolish. I was a fucking idiot. I don’t deserve you. I know that. But please hear me when I tell you, I am sorry.”
I drop my head as a single tear rolls down my cheek.
June doesn’t speak. The penthouse is quiet aside from my haggard breaths.
I’ve said so many words and yet none of them feel like I’ve even scraped the surface of letting her know just how regretful I am. And now I kneel here, half a man with my beating heart bleeding out in my hands, offering it to her in hopes that maybe, just maybe, she harbors a shred of love for me still.
June releases my hand and it's like a stake is driven straight through my heart.
She places her palms on my cheeks and tilts my head up toward her. “Was that so hard?”
“Wh-what?” I stare up at her in disbelief that she’s even speaking to me.
“All I wanted was for you to apologize, Dom.” She sighs, her thumbs skimming my beard. “This whole time. That’s all I wanted. But I was done begging you, you had to figure it out on your own.”
“You still…?” But I can’t get the last words out.
“Love you?” She smiles through her tears. “Yeah, I still love you.”
And like I’ve been struck by fucking lightning, my heart pounds life back through me. I rise to my feet, picking her up and wrapping my arms around her waist. “You love me!” I spin her around in a circle and slowly lower her to the floor.
June stares up at me. “I’m still really fucking pissed at you, but I can be mad and love you at the same time.”
I cup her face in my hand. “I’m okay with that. I am so good with that.” I sigh and cherish the feel of her skin on mine.
“Well,” Magnus says. “Are you going to kiss her or not?”
June and I both smile, and I waste no more time, bridging every bit of distance between us and pressing my lips to hers.
She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me closer.
I bend her at the waist and tip her backward, my mouth on hers every second of the way.
Someone claps and I grin against her and straighten us to the upright position.
